The Regiment is composed of rapidly-deployable light infantry forces with specialized skills that enable them to perform a variety of conventional and special operations missions – airborne, air assault, and direct action operations, raids, infiltration and exfiltration by air, land, sea, airfield seizure, recovery of personnel and special equipment, and support of general purpose forces (GPF), among other uses. Each Ranger battalion is expected to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours' notice.

During the War of 1812, companies of United States Rangers were raised from among the frontiersettlers as part of the regular Army. Throughout the war, they patrolled the frontier from Ohio to Western Illinois on horseback and by boat. They participated in many skirmishes and battles with the British and their American Indian allies. The American Civil War included Rangers such as John Singleton Mosby who was the most famous Confederate Ranger during the Civil War. His raids on Union camps and bases were so effective, part of North-Central Virginia soon became known as Mosby's Confederacy. After the Civil War, more than half a century passed without military Ranger units in the United States.

Early battalions

The three battalions that comprise the modern Rangers were originally World War II Ranger battalions. The 1st Ranger Battalion was organized and activated on June 19, 1942, at Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. The 1st Ranger Battalion participated in the North African landing at Arzeu, Algeria, the Tunisian Battles, and the critical Battle of El Guettar. The 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions were activated in Africa near the end of the Tunisian Campaign. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Battalions formed the Ranger Force. They began the tradition of wearing the scroll shoulder sleeve insignia, which has been officially adopted for today's Ranger battalions. The 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions participated in the June 6, 1944, D-Day landings at Omaha Beach, Normandy. It was during the bitter fighting along the beaches that the Rangers gained their motto, "Rangers, lead the way!" They conducted valiant missions to include scaling the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, overlooking Omaha Beach, to destroy German gun emplacements trained on the beachhead. The 6th Ranger Battalion operated in the Philippines and formed the rescue force that liberated American Prisoners Of War from a JapanesePOW camp at Cabanatuan in January 1945. The 6th Battalion destroyed the Japanese POW camp and evacuated more than 500 prisoners. It was during the campaigns in the China-Burma-India Theater that the regiment became known as Merrill's Marauders after its commander, Major GeneralFrank Merrill. The Ranger Battalions were deactivated at the close of the war.

The beginning of the Korean War in June 1950 again signaled the need for Rangers. Seventeen Korean War Ranger Companies were formed during the war. The Rangers went to battle throughout late 1950 and early 1951. They were attached first to one regiment and then to another. They performed "out front" work – scouting, patrolling, raids, ambushes, spearheading assaults, and as counterattack forces to regain lost positions.

Modern battalions

At the end of the Vietnam War, division and brigade commanders saw that the U.S. Army needed an élite, light infantry capable of rapid deployment, so, in 1974, General Creighton Abrams created the 1st Ranger Battalion; eight months later, the 2nd Ranger Battalion was created; and, in 1984, the 3d Ranger Battalion and the regimental headquarters was created. In 1986, the 75th Ranger Regiment was formed and their lineage formally authorized. The 4th, 5th, and 6th Ranger Battalions were also re-activated, becoming the Ranger Training Brigade, the instructors of the modern day Ranger School. As parts of a TRADOC school, the 4th, 5th and 6th Ranger Battalions are no longer included in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

In 1989, the entire 75th Ranger Regiment participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama. Rangers spearheaded the action by conducting two important operations. Simultaneous parachute assaults were conducted onto Torrijos/Tocumen International Airport, Rio Hato Airfield and Manuel Noriega's beach house, to neutralize Panamanian Defense Forces. The Rangers captured 1,014 enemy Prisoners of War and over 18,000 arms of various types.

The 1st and 2nd Battalions and a Company of the 3rd Battalion were deployed to Haiti in 1994. The operation was canceled within five minutes of its execution when a team of negotiators, dispatched by PresidentBill Clinton and led by former President Jimmy Carter, was able to convince General Raoul Cédras to relinquish power. Elements of the 1st and 2nd Battalions operated in-country while order was being restored. This is also the first operation where the U.S. Army was the primary operating force on a U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS America. The ship had Special Operations Forces from USSOCOM composed of Rangers, Special Forces, and other special warfare groups.

Honors

The 75th Ranger Regiment has been credited with numerous campaigns from World War II onwards. In World War II, they participated in 16 major campaigns, spearheading the campaigns in Morocco, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Anzio and Leyte. During the Vietnam War, they received campaign participation streamers for every campaign in the war.

In modern times, the regiment received streamers with arrowheads (denoting conflicts they spearheaded) for Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Regimental motto: Sua Sponte

Sua Sponte, Latin for "Of their own accord" is the 75th Ranger Regiment's regimental motto. Modern Rangers are three-time volunteers: for the U.S. Army, Airborne School, and service in the 75th Ranger Regiment (although it was previously stated that Rangers are four-time volunteers, Ranger School is not an immediate requirement of service in the 75th Ranger Regiment for junior enlisted men).

Modern Rangers

Becoming a Ranger

To become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, prospective Rangers must be qualified in their MOS and be Airborne qualified.

Soldiers already Airborne-qualified transferring from other units are separated into two groups: grades E-5 and below will attend RIP, while grade E-6 and above (including officers) will attend the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP). Upon graduation of RIP/ROP, the new Rangers will be assigned to either one of the three Ranger Battalions, the 75th Regimental Headquarters or the newly formed Ranger Special Troops Battalion (RSTB), where they are now authorized to wear the Ranger tan beret, the Ranger Scroll of their parent unit and the distinctive black physical training uniform.

Continued training

Career development requires that all members of the 75th Ranger Regiment successfully complete Ranger School, earning the Ranger Tab. Rangers in direct combat MOSs are not permitted to become leaders within the 75th Ranger Regiment without the Ranger Tab. Rangers in non-combat MOSs are strongly encouraged, as well.

RFS/RFM

Being a USASOC unit, the Rangers maintain high standards for their personnel. If at any point, a Ranger is deemed by his superiors to be failing to meet these Ranger Standards, he can be relieved and removed from the 75th Regiment. This is commonly referred to as being RFSed, short for "Relieved For Standards". A Ranger can be RFSed for virtually any reason; ranging from lack of motivation to disciplinary problems.

Similarly, a Ranger physically incapable of performing his mission through prolonged illness or injury can also be removed from the Regiment through a process referred to as RFM or "Relieved For Medical reasons". Rangers who were relieved typically end up either in non-combat units located on the same post or in airborne combat units located elsewhere, such as the 82nd Airborne Division.

Controversies

The term Ranger

After the formation of the Ranger School the term "Army Ranger" became a point of some controversy which still exists. While those that served within Ranger units tend to reserve the term exclusively for their peers who serve in the Regiment, many outside of the Ranger units use "Army Ranger" to denote all servicemen who have successfully completed the Army's Ranger course. Officially, such servicemen are referred to as being "Ranger Qualified" and are allowed to compete in the annual David E. Grange, Jr.Best Ranger Competition.

Beret change

In June 2001, Army Chief of Staff General Shinseki gave the order to issue black berets to regular soldiers. At the time, black berets were being worn exclusively by the Rangers. This created a lot of discontent within the 75th Ranger Regiment and even led to retired Rangers going on nationwide roadmarches to Washington, D.C. to protest against the decision. Because there was not a Presidential authorization to the Regiment for exclusive wear of the black beret, they switched to wearing a tan beret to preserve a unique appearance, tan being reflective of the buckskin worn by the men of Robert Rogers' Rangers.

Ranger Creed

Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of my Ranger Regiment.

Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move farther, faster and fight harder than any other soldier.

Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One-hundred-percent and then some.

Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.

Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.

Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.

Further reading

Bahmanyar, Mir. Shadow Warriors: A History of the U.S. Army Rangers. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-1841768601. This book lists the lineage and history of the 75th Ranger Regiment.